The M252 81 mm medium weight mortar is a British-designed smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for long-range indirect fire support to light infantry, air assault, and airborne units across the entire front of a battalion zone of influence.

[1] The mount consists of a base plate and a bipod, which is provided with screw type elevating and traversing mechanisms to elevate/traverse the mortar.

High explosive rounds fired by the M252 weigh 10 lb (4.5 kg) and can have an effective kill radius of 115 ft (35 m).

[4][7] The Marines developed an improved M252A2 version that weighs about 8.16 kg (18.0 lb) less than the original and incorporates a 4× magnification sight with a new cooling system.

Longer-range shots require more propellant than can fit in the tail of the round, hence the necessity of external charges.

When the target is ranged, a mortar team member adjusts the amount of propellant by removing horseshoe charges from the projectile.

The mortar squad leader verifies the number of charges; then the assistant gunner drops the round down the muzzle of the tube.